The Toddler Flight Experiences All Mums Know About

Whether it’s two hours or 12, there are some rites of passage you only experience at umpteen thousand feet with your toddler. Happy flying!

The rush out the door

You set the alarm an hour early and the bags were packed the night before. Yet, anything involving passports inevitably sees you all legging it out the door and bundling into the car at high(ish) speed. It wasn’t like this before children. Image: Corbis

The trolley ride

In the absence of a sofa, your child sits (and is maybe even pushed if he’s lucky) on the trolley with the sort of glee usually reserved for when Gangnam Style comes on the radio. You’re a little bit jealous you can’t do it, too. Image: Corbis

The check-in juggle

Umpteen passports, a grizzly toddler and that irrational panic that you don’t look like the type of organised/innocent/wonderful family they’ll want to let on the plane. Stand up straight, now. Image: Corbis

The vending machine

Don’t make eye contact with it. Don’t let your toddler. Oh fine, then. Dairy Milk and a Ribena it is. It is a holiday, after all. Image: Corbis

The boarding relief

Three cheers for letting people with kids get on first! Image: Corbis

The seat hope

Holding your breath as you approach your seats in anticipation of your neighbour. Fingers crossed it’s someone minus a briefcase of important, high-security documents. Or at least a person with headphones. Or smiling. Image: Corbis

The take-off stand up

The seatbelt sign is on, but your toddler is definitely not sitting still. Why miss all the fun going on outside? Especially if you’re delayed on the tarmac. iPad at the ready… Image: Corbis

The round-the-track laps

Just like students doing a circuit of a bar to see who’s there, chances are your toddler will want to do a few laps of the plane. Particularly while the food/drink trolley is doing the rounds. Image: Corbis

Wine wistfulness

Is that gin on the drinks trolley? Sigh… Image: Corbis

The chair-in-front kick

The passenger curiousity

With so many new people around, your toddler’s social side appears with gusto. One M&B-er’s family sat behind a bald man on a flight and their two year old thought it was funny to slap his head continuously. The man and his wife certainly didn't. Image: Corbis

Proud mum face

That warm and fuzzy feeling as other passengers ‘aw’ over your child. Yes, he is so cute and hilarious. Image: Corbis

The airhostess attention

Toddlers definitely get the most attention from cabin crew. Image: Corbis

The toilet investigation

When he touches everything in the plane toilet, including the actual loo. Enough to give you OCD-style palpitations. Image: Corbis

Toy envy

No amount of books/Lego/teddies are as interesting as the Kindle/magazine/nail varnish your neighbour is enjoying. Image: Corbis

PG movies

The in-flight film options include that Halle Berry one that isn’t even out in the UK yet. But, if you get a chance to put a movie on, then it’s the children’s section all the way. Image: Corbis

The nap bliss

He’s having a snooze. Ah… Image: Corbis

The seatbelt resistance

The light pings, the captain speaks and it’s seatbelts on for descent. Just before your little one loudly announces he needs a poo. Image: Corbis

It’s great for encouraging her co-ordination and understanding how her body works, but toddler dancing doesn’t necessarily mean Nelly The Elephant/Dora The Explorer/Wheels On The Bus over and over… and over. Check out the other (grown up friendly) tunes that’ll get your child moving.

A looming holiday can be a daunting prospect when you’ve got young children travelling with you – especially when you’ve heard horror stories of babies crying non-stop on an eight hour flight or toddlers not liking the food at their resort. But with a little extra planning and preparation there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have as good a time as you would pre-baby – if not better!

Each month, Childs Farm's resident skincare expert will be tackling all your skincare concerns and giving you the correct know-how, to ensure the whole family has healthy and gorgeous-looking skin. This month's instalment is understanding what eczema is and what the number one treatment is...

When you have a newborn baby, you want to do everything to give them the best start in life and there are so many tips, advice and methods that it can be overwhelming! One thing you can get off your list is choosing which newborn nappy to use.